Magic Beans

I have a confession to make.  In spite of what I may have led you to believe, I have been...for most of my life, anyway...a disinterested vegetable gardener.  Oh, I've always grown tomatoes...even when I was single...because my Dad always grew them and it just wouldn't be Summer without fresh tomatoes from the garden.  And I always had a row or two of lettuce...and a few green beans.  But...I HATE the heat of high Summer...and so by this time of the year, any veggies I had managed to grow had usually succumbed to the lack of attention.  I would look after my flowers...but the veggies...meh.

However, in the past couple of years I've jumped on the home-grown bandwagon.  And this year...since we've been following the Atkins eating plan, with it's HUGE emphasis on fresh vegetables...I decided to make a special effort to coddle the kitchen garden.  I was especially pleased with my green beans...which kept me busy blanching and freezing through most of July.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed they were waning...the plants withering...and although they were still producing a few beans, they were quite small.  My plan was to pull up the plants and replace them with a Fall crop of broccoli.  Then we got slammed by the heat again...and since my broccoli seedlings were nowhere near ready for the garden, I procrastinated.  Every time I went out to water the tomatoes and peppers, I would water the beans as well...because I felt sorry for them. 

Well...a few days ago, I went out to the garden and was greeted by this:

The bean plants had come to life...with fresh new leaves... 

...and loads of blossoms and tender young beans underneath!  I'll just bet you experienced gardeners out there are LOLing right now...but I had no idea green beans did this!  We're having a Bean-O-Rama this year...TWICE!!

Here's the haul from this morning...cherry tomatoes, "Soldacki" Polish heirloom tomato, a big handful of broccoli shoots...and a whole bunch of green beans.

My camera-shy assistant, Sammy...leading the way back to the house.  She had been posing adorably in the grass until she saw the camera in my hand.  (Stinker!)  She's the litter-mate to Bonnie and Clyde...and is my In-law's pupper.  She spent the night here with her brother and sister...who chose to stay in bed while she and I made the rounds in the garden. 

And here's my breakfast!  Atkins advocates the incorporation of veggies into all meals...and encourages thinking outside the box...which can make for some unusual combinations.  This morning, I had a lemon-butter Cod fillet (left over from last night)...topped with egg salad...with a side of freshly-picked green beans.  And it was yummy! 







Thank you for visiting with me today.  I've been away from blogland for a bit and I've missed you!  I hope you'll stop by again next week...as I hope to have some sewing projects to show you...and a post about my latest weekend getaway with The Mailman...as well as the continuation of our 2010 Scotland trip.  We're going to Skye!